Storage case



Aug. 15, 1967 R. w. MURPHY ETAL 3,335,847

STORAGE CASE Filed July 29, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG! INVENTORS.' F166ROBERT w. MURPHY CORNELIUS MARK PHIPPS l|27 @Yamjmzgw ATT'YS Al1g- 15,1967 R. w. MURPHY ETAL 3,335,847

STORAGE CASE Filed July' 29, 1965 2 sheetsheey n. mm o@ INVENTORS;ROBERT W. MURPHY CORNELIUS MARK PHIPFS United States Patent O 3,335,847STORAGE CASE Robert W. Murphy, Morton Grove, and Cornelius Mark Phipps,Wheaton, Ill., assgnors to The Boye Needle Company, Chicago, Ill., acorporation of Illinois Filed July 29, 1965, Ser. No. 475,689 4 Claims.(Cl. 206-16) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A storage case for amultiplicity of small items such as knitting needles and the like whichmay be folded from an open to a closed position. The case includes abacking sheet on which are mounted a pair of storage trays. Each trayhas a plurality of spaced-apart storage cavities shaped to receive andhold below the top surface thereof the items to be stored, and some ofthe cavities are curved to permit storage of flexible items that arelonger than the trays. The case may be closed by folding about the hingestrip interposed between the trays, and part of each cavity of a tray isclosed by a portion of the top surface of the other tray, therebysecuring the stored items Within the cavities.

This invent-ion relates to a storage case, and more particularly to astorage case for a multiplicity of small items of different sizes andshapes. For example, the storage case of this invention is adapted forstoring circular knitting needles and components for forming needles, ina variety of sizes and shapes, together with auxiliary tools andcomponents.

A general object of -this invention is to provide a convenient, compact,and inexpensive storage case for a multiplicity of small items ofdifferent sizes and shapes, such as circular knitting needles andcomponents therefor. A more specific object -is to provide a storagecase of the character described which permits the items to be stored intwo superposed trays when the case is closed, while the trays arearranged side-by-side with ready access to the tops thereof when thecase is open. Another specific object is to provide means for assuringthat the items will be retained within the storage trays of the case,while at the same time providing a simple and inexpensive construction.A stillfurther object is to provide means for guiding the trays into thecorrect superposed relation, and for maintaining the trays in suchrelation for the closed condition of the case. Further objects andadvantages will be indicated in the following detailed specification.

This invention is shown in an illustrative embodiment in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a, perspective view of a storage case embodying the featuresof the present invention, the case being shown in closed condition;

FIG. 2 is a somewhat diagrammatic transverse sectional view of the caseof FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detailed sectional tion of the case of FIGS. 1 and2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the case in its open condition;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the case in open condition taken on line 55 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view showing thepositioning button and guide recess in the closed position of the case.

Looking first at FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a case designatedgenerally as C. The case is designed for storing a multiplicity of smallitems of different sizes and shapes, such as circular knitting needlepoints P, or flexview of a por- 3,335,847 Patented Aug'. l5, 1967 ibletubes T, the points being of different sizes, and the tubes being ofdifferent lengths.

Backing sheet means designated generally by the number 10 provides theouter cover for the case C, and also provides for the mounting of thetrays 11 and 12. The backing sheet 10, which is formed of flexiblematerial, includes a central, tranversely-extending hinge strip 11 (FIG.2). The inner surfaces 10a and 10b of the backing sheet 10 on each sideof the hinge strip 11 provide complementary traysupporting sections. Theouter surface of the backing sheet 10 provides the outside cover for thecase C.

For holding the case in its closed condition, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,there is provided releasable fastener means including a flexible strap13, which has one end attached to the outside of case C, as indicated at13a. The other end is provided with a socket member 14 for receiving afastener stud 15. Since the construction and operation of such fastenermeans is well known in the art, it is not believed it will be necessaryto further describe it herein. As shown in FIG. 2, the fastener means iseffective for holding the trays 11 and 12 in facing, superposed relationwhen the case is closed.

One preferred construction of the backing sheet 10 and the trays 11 and12 is illustrated in FIGS. 3-5. While the backing sheet 10 may be formedof a single layer of material, it can also be formed advantageously ofmultiple layers or of laminated layers. In the illustration given, thebacking sheet 10 includes an outer layer 16 and an inner layer 17. Thelayers 16 and 17, or the entire backing sheet mem-ber, may be formed ofvarious flexible sheet materials, such as cardboard, plastic, leather,etc. In the illustration given, the outer layer 16 is formed oflightweight cardboard having a plastic coating on the outside surface toimprove the appearance and provide a surface seal against liquids orsoil. Inner layers 17 may be formed of ordinary lightweight cardboard,and no special treatment or coating is required since layer 17 will notbe visible in the lcompleted case.

The tray-s 11 and 12 are preferably formed of a material which may bemolded, such as thermoplastic material'like polyethylene, polypropylene,or other moldable thermoplastics. While the trays 11 and 12 may beformed as a solid piece, they are preferably formed as hollow shells.For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the tray 12 has a hollow interior 12a,side walls 12b, a top wall 12e, and a peripheral flange 12d extendingoutwardly from the bottom of the side wall 12b. It will be understoodthat tray 11 is of similar construction, and that the trays may beintegrally molded from a suitable thermoplastic. The trays 11 and 12,whether hollow or solid, will be relatively rigid compared to thebacking sheet 10.

The trays 11 and 12A may be attached to the backing sheet means 10 invarious ways, such as by the use of adhesive, sewing, staples, etc. Inthe illustration given,V the tray flanges, such as the flange 12d, isstitched to the inner sheet layer 17, as indicated at 18 in FIGS. 3 and4. The stitches may extend entirely around the trays, and a facing layeror sheet 19 may also be secured to the flanges, such as the flange 12d,by the same stitches. In the illustration given, the facing layer 19,which may be formed of leather, plastic, or cardboard, provides cut-outs19a and 19b through which the tray-s 11 and 12 extend, and also thecentral portion 11 of the backing 10.

Where the backing sheet means 10 is formed of multiple layers, such asthe layers 16 and 17, these layers should be united by some suitablemeans. If desired, the layers 16 and 17 may be adhe-sively attached, butthis is not essential. In the illustration given, the outer edges of the19C overlying the hinge section layers 16 and 17 are united 'bystitching, as indicated at 20. Preferably, a binding is provided whichoverlaps the outer edges of layers 16 and 17 and the facing sheet 19,the binding 21 and the layers 16, 17 being united by the same stitches20.

In accordance with the present invention, the trays 11 and 12 have flattop surfaces. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the top surfaces of the trays11 and 12 lie side by side, with the top surfaces facing upwardly whenthe case is openl The trays 11 and 12 are positionable in opposedrelation, with the top surfaces in contact with each other when the caseis closed by the flexing of the hinge section means 11, as shown in FIG.2. The trays 11 and 12 each respectively yprovide a plurality -ofspaced-apart storage cavities, such as the cavities 22 in tray 11 andthe cavities 23 in tray 12, which extend from the top surfaces of thetrays toward the backing sheet 10. As shown more clearly in FIG. 4,trays 11 and 12 provide a variety of storage cavities of different sizesand shapes. The cavities of each of the trays have intervening areas oftheir respective top surfaces extending therebetween, such as the areas24 of tray 11 and the areas 25 of tray 12.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 3, the cavities, such as the cavities 23of tray 12, are shaped to receive and hold the respective items to bestored, such as the needle points P below the top surface of the tray.The mouths of the cavities, such as the mouths 23a,` may advantageouslybe slightly narrowed to provide a snap-in type of tit for the items tobe stored, while permitting the items to be readily removed. For-achieving the results of the present invention, it is important thatthe storage cavities, such as the cavities 22 and 23, be different foreach of the trays and arranged with respect to the cavities of the othertray so that at least part of each cavity is closed by one of theintervening surface areas, such as the areas 24 and 25 when the case isclosed, as shown more clearly in FIG. 2.

In the illustration given and preferably, the trays 11 yand 12 are ofsubstantially identical size, being of the same height, length, andwidth. This permits the top surfaces of the trays to completely covereach other when the trays are closed. It is also preferred that thebacking sheet means extend -beyond the sides of the tray, so that thetrays are recessed within the case, as shown in FIGS, 1 and 2.

As shown .particularly in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, one of the trays may beprovided with a positioning button, such as the button 26 provided bytray 12, which projects out from the top surface of the tray away fromthe backing sheet. The other tray is provided with a guide recess, suchas the recess 27 provided by tray 11, which extends from the top surfacethereof toward the hacking sheet. Preferably, the guide recess 27 ispositioned and sized to snugly receive the positioning button 26 as thecase is closed. The relative position of the button 26 in the recess 27is shown more clearly in FIG. 6. By employing one or more suchpositioning buttons and guide recesses, the trays 11 and 12 are guidedinto the correct, superposed posit-ion when the case is closed, and areprevented from shifting laterally with respect to each other while thecase remains closed.

While in the foregoing specification this invention has been describedwith respect to a specific embodiment thereof and many details have beenset forth for purpose of illustratiom it will be apparent that theinvention is susceptible to other embodiments and that certain of thedetails described herein can be varied considerably without departingfrom the basic principles of the invention.

We claim:

1. ln a storage case for a multiplicity of small items of differentsizes and shapes, `such as kniting needles and the like, the combinationof:

(a) backing sheet means of flexible material including central,transversely-extending hinge strip means,

the inner surfaces of said backing sheet means on each side of saidhinge strip means providing complementary tray-supporting sections,

the outer surface of said backing sheet means providing the outsidecover for said case,

(b) -a relatively rigid tray mounted -on each of said sections with thebottoms thereof securely attached to -said backing sheet means,

said trays having at top surfaces and side walls and lying side-by-sidewith said top surfaces facing upwardly when said case is open,

said trays being positionable in opposed relation w-ith said topsurfaces in contact with each other when said case is closed by flexingof said hinge section means, each of said trays having a plurality ofspaced-apart storage cavities extending therein from its top surfacetoward said back- -ing sheet means,

said cavities also extending in a direction parallel with said topsur-faces, some of said cavities being curved to extend in directionsparallel with at least two of the side Walls of a tray, whereby anelongated, flexible item having a length greater than the length of saidtray-supporting sections may 'be stored in said tray,

the cavities of each of said trays having intervening areas of therespective top surface extending therebetween,

said cavities being shaped to receive and hold -beloW said top surfacesthe respective items to be stored,

the cavities provided by each of said trays being different and beingarranged with respect to the cavities of the other tray so that at leastpart of each cavity is closed by one of said intervening surface areasof the opposing top surface when said case is closed,

(c) releasable fastener means for securing said case in its closedposition, and

(d) a positioning button projecting out from the top surface of one ofsaid trays away from said backing sheet means,

the other of said trays having a guide recess extending from its topsurface toward said backing sheet means and being positioned and sizedto snugly receive said button as said case is closed.

2. In a storage case for a multiplicity of small items of differentsizes and shapes, such as knitting needles and the like, the combinationof:

(a) backing sheet means a exible material including central,transversely-extending hinge strip means,

the inner surfaces of said backing sheet means on each side of saidhinge strip means providing complementary tray-supporting sections, theouter surface of said backing sheet means providing the outside coverfor said case,

(fb) a relatively rigid tray mounted on each of said sections, each ofsaid trays including a flat top surface, side walls, and a perimetricflange extending outwardly from said side walls and overlying saidbacking sheet,

said trays lying side-by side with said top surfaces facing upwardlywhen said case is open,

said trays being positionable in opposed relation with said top surfacesin contact with each other when said case is closed by the liexing ofsaid hinge section means,

eac-h of said trays having a plurality of spacedapart storage cavitiesextending therein from its top surface toward said backing sheet means,the cavities of each of said trays having intervening areas of therespective top surface extending therebetween,

said cavities being shaped to receive and hold below said top surfacesthe respective items to be stored,

the cavities provided by each of said trays being different and beingarranged with respect to the cavities of the other tray so that at leastpart of each cavity is closed by one of said intervening surface areasof the opposing top surface when said case is closed; and

(c) facing sheet means overlapping said perimetric anges, said facingsheet means, flanges, and backing sheet means being secured bystitching.

3. The storage case of claim 2 including a binding means overlapping theOuter edges of said backing sheet means and said `facing sheet means,said backing sheet means, facing sheet means, and binding means beingsecured by stitching.

4. The storage case of claim 2 wherein said facing sheet means comprisesa single facing sheet which is generally coextensive with said backingsheet means, said facing sheet being provided with a pair of openings,each of said trays extending through one of said openings.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Swan 206-17 Frisbie 206-62 Storer206-66 XR Will 206-67 XR Flannery 206-16 Hanson 206-17 Penman 211-60Vaughan et al. 206-16 Caputi 206-67 Great Britain.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner.

1. IN A STORAGE CASE FOR A MULTIPLICITY OF SMALL ITEMS OF DIFFERENTSIZES AND SHAPES, SUCH AS KNITING NEEDLES AND THE LIKE, THE COMBINATIONOF: (A) BACKING SHEET MEANS OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL INCLUDING CENTRAL,TRANSVERSELY-EXTENDING HINGE STRIP MEANS, THE INNER SURFACES OF SAIDBACKING SHEET MEANS ON EACH SIDE OF SAID HINGE STRIP MEANS PROVIDINGCOMPLEMENTARY TRAY-SUPPORTING SECTIONS, THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAIDBACKING SHEET MEANS PROVIDING THE OUTSIDE COVER FOR SAID CASE, (B) ARELATIVELY RIGID TRAY MOUNTED ON EACH OF SAID SECTIONS WITH THE BOTTOMSTHEREOF SECURELY ATTACHED TO SAID BACKING SHEET MEANS, SAID TRAYS HAVINGFLAT TOP SURFACES AND SIDE WALLS AND LYING SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH SAID TOPSURFACES FACING UPWARDLY WHEN SAID CASE IS OPEN, SAID TRAYS BEINGPOSITIONABLE IN OPPOSED RELATION WITH SAID TOP SURFACES IN CONTACT WITHEACH OTHER WHEN SAID CASE IS CLOSED BY FLEXING OF SAID HINGE SECTIONMEANS, EACH OF SAID TRAYS HAVING A PLURALITY OF SPACED-APART STORAGECAVITIES EXTENDING THEREIN FROM ITS TOP SURFACE TOWARD SAID BACKINGSHEET MEANS, SAID CAVITIES ALSO EXTENDING IN A DIRECTION PARALLEL WITHSAID TOP SURFACES, SOME OF SAID CAVITIES BEING CURVED TO EXTEND INDIRECTIONS PARALLEL WITH AT LEAST TWO OF THE SIDE WALLS OF A TRAY,WHEREBY AN ELONGATED, FLEXIBLE ITEM HAVING A LENGTH GREATER THAN THELENGTH OF SAID TRAY-SUPPORTING SECTIONS MAY BE STORED IN SAID TRAY, THECAVITIES OF EACH OF SAID TRAYS HAVING INTERVENING AREAS OF THERESPECTIVE TOP SURFACE EXTENDING THEREBETWEEN, SAID CAVITIES BEINGSHAPED TO RECEIVE AND HOLD BELOW SAID TOP SURFACES THE RESPECTIVE ITEMSTO BE STORED, THE CAVITIES PROVIDED BY EACH OF SAID TRAYS BEINGDIFFERENT AND BEING ARRANGED WITH RESPECT TO THE CAVITIES OF THE OTHERTRAY SO THAT AT LEAST PART OF EACH CAVITY IS CLOSED BY ONE OF SAIDINTERVENING SURFACE AREAS OF THE OPPOSING TOP SURFACE WHEN SAID CASE ISCLOSED, (C) RELEASABLE FASTENER MEANS FOR SECURING SAID CASE IN ITSCLOSED POSITION, AND (D) A POSITIONING BUTTON PROJECTING OUT FROM THETOP SURFACE OF ONE OF SAID TRAYS AWAY FROM SAID BACKING SHEET MEANS, THEOTHER OF SAID TRAYS HAVING A GUIDE RECESS EXTENDING FROM ITS TOP SURFACETOWARD SAID BACKING SHEET MEANS AND BEING POSITIONED AND SIZED TO SNUGLYRECEIVE SAID BUTTON AS SAID CASE IS CLOSED.